Cambodia detains 8 over ‘Black Monday’ protest

Two foreigners were among eight people arrested by Cambodian police on Monday in Phnom Penh for protesting the jailing of a group of human rights workers and an election official on what demonstrators said were politically-motivated charges.

Cambodian police detain woman during a protest to free jailed activists in Phnom Penh on May 9

Anti-riot officers carrying batons and shields set up roadblocks to prevent some 40 people taking part in the “Black Monday” protest outside the prison holding those jailed.

Eight demonstrators include protesters from two rights groups Licadho and Sahmakum Teang Tnaut were bundled into police vans. One Swedish and one German man were among those detained.

Tension is running high as a string of legal cases filed against prominent members of the country’s main opposition party weaken its chances of wresting power from self-styled strong man Prime Minister Hun Sen at the next general election in 2018. Reuters